The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
a WOMAN HANGED.

a WOMAN HANGED.
Mrs. Druse Pays the Penalty of Her
Husbands Murder.
Mrs. Roxalana Druse, who murdered her
husband on December 1s, 1884, and deliber-
ately cut up and burned his body, was exc
cuted by hanging exactly at noon on Mon
day, February g. in the jail yard at Her
kimer, N. Y. A dispatch from that place
gives the following vivid account of the exc
cution:
The morning of the day fixed for the execu-
tion of Mrs. Roxalana Druse for the murder
very cold. The condemned woman slept lit
tie during the night She did not retire until
midnight, and then she refused to undress, say
ing it was hardly worth while, as she eI-
pected to get little sleep. When she did sleep
her mutterings indicated acute mental torture.
At short intervals during the balance Of the
night Mrs: Druse would jump up and neryously
friends and @ sppeared to ind relief in the &C. oc-
cupation. Some flowers accompanying let
ter from her daughter, Mary, who is confined
in the Onondaga Penitentary at Syracuse for
life, which were brought to her last night by
Superintendent Irving G. Terry, seemed to
affect her deeply. She wrote touching note
to her daughter in reply. At times she wept
Druse.
Her bearing, however, as q whole was reso-
lutte, and her resignation to the inevitable ap.
peared to increase as the night wore on. Her
fear of approaching death was nevertheless
made apparent by occasional exclamations Of
despair At times during the night the watch
ers, Mr.. and Mrs. Waterman, thought that
the unfortunate woman had found relief in
sleep, but they were generally mistaken. And
thus the night wore on and the woman at
the break Of day was still making vain ef-
fort to obtain a little rest. At last, find
ing it impossible to sleep, she arose, bathed
her face and began making preparations for
the ordeal through which she was soon to
pass.
After dressing herself in most careful
manner, putting On black cashmere dress,
the murderess sat down to breakfast, but could
not partake Of any of the food. She was
Joined by Rev. DR.. Powell, her spiritual ad-
wiser, who prayed fervently with her and in
every way tried to comfort the unfortunate
woman. He appeared to have great influence
over her, and at times she seemed much COM
posed. Several hymns were sung in which
she joined with apparent fervor, and her
voice could be heard strong and clear, al
though rather unmusical.
The morning was spent in praying, writing
and singing, with now and then hysterical
periods on the part Of the condemned.
At Ills A. n. the Jurors, Deputies and 9th
or persons appointed to witness the execution
were led upstairs to the cell of the condemned
woman by Deputy Sheriff BARLEY Mannion.
Rev. Mr.. Powell, a. D. Luce, Mrs. Druse's
counsel, and Superintendent Terry Of the
Onondaga Penitentiary were also present
The death warrant was read to Mrs. Druse
In her cell by Sheriff Cook.
DR.. Suter, who worked up the medical legal
evidence for Mrs Druse, then entered the cell
and took her pulse, which beat at so, having
come down from 100 in 40 minutes.
Mrs. Druse then broke down almost COM
pie tely and it was feared that she would have
to be carried to the gallows.
She, however, after having received few
words of encouragement from DR.. Powell, re-
covered her composure, and the procession to
the scaffold was formed, Sheriff Cook leading,
followed by Under Sheriff Rice, behind whom
came the prisoner, leaning heavily upon the
arm Of Rev. DR.. Powell. Her face was greatly
flushed, but no tears were shed, although an
expression Of utter hopelessness and resigna-
tion, even despair, was plainly visible. Upon
reaching the fatal spot Mrs. Druse stepped to
the middle Of the board platform, built upon
offered up prayer, lasting about three min
utes.
Happening to cast her eyes upward she
caught sight Of the dangling moose, which she
had. not noticed before, and convulsive
tremor shook her slight frame. She also
sobbed gently at intervals. At the conclusion
of the prayer, both prisoner and clergyman
arose, when DR.. Powell grasping her hand
bade her goodbye and stepped outside Of the
49, I4,x
Previous to this, however, Mrs. Druse
leaned over and whispered to DR.. Powell a
request that he thank her friends who had la
bored so long and faithfully in her behalf,
Mrs. Druse Still held in her hand the bouquet
Of flowers which her daughter, Mary, had
sent her. These she gave to the doctor.
The executioner then stepped forward and
pinioned her arms and legs together.
The moose was adjusted and the black cap
the prisoner again showed signs Of collapse,
and began to scream and shrek at the top Of
her voice in a hysterical manner, but the
drop on the 213-pound weight choked of her
cries in her throat, and the body of the muir
deress, whose awful crime has shocked the
| ward about four feet, shooting for
ward to the right and settling back to
| within one foot and half OF the
platform. Drs. Suter and Kay stepped
| forward and examined the pulse beats, which
were almost imperceptible. After the lapse
| Of one minute q spasmodic clinching OF the
fingers occurred, followed by efforts to draw
| up the legs. The pulse also began to beat very
rapidly about l02, although very feeble. This
increased at three minutes to 40, although
still quite weak. The pulsations were then
less rapid, decreasing two minutes later to
120.
The heart-beats at this time were 4S per
minute. The pulse continued to get slower
until Is minutes after the drop fell when life
was pronounced extinct by DR.. Suter.
The drop fell at II AS, life was pronounced
extinct at 1908 and the body was lowered on
| the undertaker's stretcher eleven minutes
| later.
A neat imitation rosewood coffin was
brought in. When the black cap was drawn
back it was found that death had resulted
| from asphyxia. The neck and lower portions
| of the face were much Giscolored and the
rope marks were plainly visible The moose
had cut a bunch Of flowers and some lace
which she had worn at her neck and here
| forced them into the flesh. The body was al
once put into the coffin and Immediately
turned over to DR.. Powell who promised to
give Mrs. Druse Christian burial.
| EXONERATING HER DAUGHTER
| Before her death Mrs. Druse in compliance
with the request from her daughter that She
should not leave blot on her name, made
the following affidavit:
II, Roxalana Druse, in my last moments
| do hereby solemnly swear and affirm that my